This map displays the share of each county’s population living below the official poverty threshold. The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty using income thresholds that vary by household size and composition. In 2023, for example, a family of four with two children is considered below the poverty line if its total annual income was less than $31,200. These thresholds are adjusted annually for inflation and do not vary by geography. This classification emphasizes relative poverty within local populations rather than absolute population counts, giving more accurate comparisons across counties of different sizes. Learn more about how the U.S. Census Bureau defines and measures poverty:
census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty.html